Recipe: Wild Duck w/Peanut Stuffing

Wild Duck w/Peanut Stuffing

½ duck per serving unless very small

The peanuts add a congenial taste and a nice crunch to the meat.

¾ C cracker crumbs

½ C chopped dry-roasted peanuts

½ C or more heavy cream

2 T butter, melted

2 t grated onion

Pinch of cayenne pepper

1 wild duck

Salt

Freshly ground black pepper

2 slices salt pork

Combine the crumbs, peanuts, cream, butter, grated onion, and cayenne. If the stuffing seems too dry, add a little more cream. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Rinse the duck inside and out with cold water; dry thoroughly. Stuff and skewer shut, then truss by winding string twice around one leg, then leaving an inch of slack and winding it around the other leg. Place the duck breast up on a rack in a shallow pan. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste and cover the breast with the salt pork. Roast for 20-30 minutes, basting every 5 minutes with the melted fat.